I frowned. Nemain would change the world alright. She would make sure the humans of the world were her slaves, and she’d destroy every other supernatural race. I couldn’t believe that there were other fae out there who wanted the samething.
“It’s been weeks,” Fiona whined. “We’ve got the cauldron. Why won’t itwork?”
So, we’d been right. The Cauldron Tossers had gotten their hands on the magical item, but they had no idea how to use it. That was a good sign, though their next words sent a chill down myspine.
“It won’t work because we don’t have his spear,” the quiet male continued. “The prophecy girl said we needed to getit.”
Prophecy girl. Saoirse. My heart flipped over. She was okay. She was still alive. And they were making her do prophecies for them just like we’dfeared.
And we were back to that damn spearagain.
“No matter,” the male sniffed. “According to my source, Lugh is alone tonight, unguarded. His spear has been hidden away, which means he cannot use it against us. His little goblin is busy with another task. We’ll take himtonight.”
Wait. I leaned forward and the bannister creaked beneathme.
“I don’t understand,” Fiona said. “I thought we needed hisspear.”
“The prophecy made it clear we need something potent, which Lugh’s spear is. But if his spear is potent, he will be, too. We will sacrifice the King in order to get our Queenback.”
My heart roared as the enemy’s words echoed in my mind. I’d left Lugh alone back at the castle, and Uisnech was off feasting on...whatever hobgoblins feasted on. The guards were in place at the gates, but would they be able to stop thisattack?
“Ooh, sacrifice the King,” another voice said, cackling. “I love the sound of that. Let’s hit him now, while he’s asleep. He’ll never see uscoming.”
19
Ipacedthe warped floor in the pub’s rented room. My hands clenched and then unclenched. Shaking my head, I tried to solve a puzzle that didn’t seem to have an answer. These fae were going after Lugh. I needed to warn him, but...I couldn’t risk being in his presence. What if I killedhim?
Get a grip, I shouted at myself. It wasn’t like my arm would move in independence of my body. There might be a prophecy that I would kill him, but it wasn’t like it would just come out ofnowhere.
With a frustrated sigh, I punched a number into my cell. Lugh’s number. Even if I couldn’t go to him, I could warn him about what was coming his way. His phone rang and rang and rang. Swearing, I tried Uisnech next. If I couldn’t warn Lugh himself, the hobgoblin was second best. He was out doing his feasting thing, but I was certain he would go back to the castle if it meant protectingLugh.
But he didn’t pick up his phoneeither.
My mouth went dry as I tried to ignore what that meant. Best case scenario, Lugh was just asleep and Uisnech was still out on thetown.
But my life didn’t really work in best casescenarios.
I paced one more time and then nodded to myself. I was a warrior. Enough with the phone calls. Time to use myblade.
Patting my sword, I jogged down the stairs. If I couldn’t warn Lugh, then I’d just have to fight the tossers here. Sure, making a war in a human establishment would bring unwanted attention onto the fae, but I didn’t have any other choice. They had to be stopped before they attacked thecastle.
“Where are they?” I barked when I flew into the pub like a frantic wraith. The bartender was back behind the wooden shelf again, collecting half a dozen discarded glasses, some three-quarters full. He was whistling to himself, but the sound cut off sharply when I thundered towardhim.
He gave me a startled look. “Where iswho?”
“The people in here earlier,” I snapped. “The ones who gave you a tip to getscarce.”
“Oh.” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Were youeavesdropping?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Now, where arethey?”
I didn’t want to scare the shit out of a human, but I would if I had to. My hand twitched by my sword. Right now, it was hidden beneath my coat. But if I had to show ‘ole Stabby to get him to talk, then so beit.
I’d done far worse things in my life than threaten ahuman.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged as if a sword-wielding fae wasn’t standing right before him, ready to hurl her pointy knife at whoever crossed her next. “I poked out my head a few minutes ago to see if they wanted another drink, and they weregone.”
“Bollocks!” I stormed toward the door, my coat flapping behindme.
